Evardone on bunkhouse controversy: ‘My conscience is clear’

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone on Tuesday denied allegations that he knew anything about the supposed overpriced bunkhouses being constructed in areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).

“I don’t know where [such allegations] are coming from. My conscience is clear,” he said in an interview over Inquirer Radio 990AM.

Evardone is among the officials dragged into the controversy of the alleged construction of overpriced temporary shelters in Eastern Visayas and other areas hit by “Yolanda.”

On Monday, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson denied that the bunkhouses were overpriced, although he said it was possible that private contractors were not following government specifications. However, said he was told that local politics was involved, specifically in Eastern Samar.

In a separate interview with Inquirer Radio 990AM, rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson said he has already ordered the investigation of two officials possibly involved in the issue. He refused to name them but said one was an “administration congressman.”

Evardone, congressman of Eastern Samar, is a known administration ally.

But the congressman said he himself was dealing with the devastation and could not possibly “think of greed.”

“I did not and I will not, I never (thought of being involved in such a thing)…My worry at that time was to make sure my constituents survive and recover,” he said.

Instead, he believed there were “forces out to destroy the efforts of the government.”

“I think they are greedy people. I can say these are forces who want to make this administration fail,” he added.

Evardone also said he thinks local politics was involved.

“I think it’s (the mayor of) Guiuan. Because it’s the only one (that complained about the bunkhouses),” he said. “But I’m not sure.”

The representative said DPWH told him that one out of the 12 mayors in Eastern Samar “initially refused to allow the building of bunkhouses” in his town.

“The DPWH approached him, thought he wanted his own contractor. So they asked him [then said] ‘Ok you can [have] your own contractor.’ But there was no reply from him,” he said.

When the town’s Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution allowing the construction of bunkhouses, “he felt slighted,” Evardone said.

The congressman was also told that some contractors might not be following government specifications because of the scarcity of materials and the pressure to beat the deadline.

He said it was “very unfair” to tag the contractors as corrupt, especially since they volunteered and were ready to forego their profits.

Evardone said he hoped those behind the controversy “stop and realize that we need all the help.”

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